peroxide
n. C / Un. a strong chemical liquid used to kill germs or to make hair much lighter in color. You might use it on a small cut or to bleach your hair blonde.
n. a chemical compound containing two oxygen atoms bonded together, most commonly referring to hydrogen peroxide. Often used as an antiseptic, a bleaching agent, or an oxidising agent in industrial processes.
She used peroxide to make her hair blonde.
The nurse cleaned the minor wound with a diluted solution of peroxide to prevent infection.
In industrial chemistry, peroxides serve as powerful oxidising agents, though they require careful handling due to their inherent instability and potential for explosive decomposition under certain thermal conditions.
From per- + oxide.
Uncountable when referring to the chemical substance in general; countable when referring to specific chemical variations or types.